A Bunch of Numbers

 In MEMORIAM - 68 YEARS LATER

It is now 68 years after World War II ended in Europe. The exact date of the war's end is not universally agreed upon but the impact of this war will always be remembered. It should be anyway. Yet, if you walked the streets today and randomly asked about the war what would be the response? Would the average Joe know that six million Jews, 20 million Russians, 10 million Christians and 1,900 Catholic Priests were murdered, raped, burned, starved, and humiliated while so much of the world looked the other way? How about the fact that WWII was the deadliest military conflict in history? Over 2.5% of the world population were killed...over 60 million people! Nearly 300,000 combat deaths were from the United States.

As for the Holocaust, there are those who deny it ever took place. Holocaust deniers attempt to rewrite history by minimizing, denying or simply ignoring essential facts. It is imperative to make sure the world never forgets. 

From the past into the present and on into the future, evil lurks in the shadows waiting for the right moment. The moment to strike. The moment to inflict terror. This is especially true in the wake of terrorists attacks, such as 9/11. The enemy lies in wait...for the next time. Theirs is a heart of smirks with pleasure every time an American flag is not raised, the National Anthem is not sung, the Pledge of Allegiance is not recited. 

Whisperings from the Past...

Whispers of the past may surface as invitations from the heart, refreshment for the mind, or invigoration of the soul. Sometimes they awaken images once an intricate part of life but now appear as shadows of pain and suffering: gone but never forgotten.

Say It for America

The hope, faith, and courage on which our nation was founded are still alive today

as new challenges are faced in America and abroad.

While issues continue to revolve in a vicious circle,

their methods of resolution have now become of far greater concern.

 

The new era begins

Amid chaos and confusion

In the midst of despair

Is peace only a delusion?

 

 

As we look back

To our history's plights

Are we engaged

In much similar plights?

 

 

While not the fight for freedom

Knowing that campaign was won

But maintaining our freedom

Is the crusade now begun

 

 

In our homeland

And across the sea

Are constant threats

Against liberty

 

 

America values and beliefs

Are challenges of today

As a fight for home and dignity

Is steadily underway

 

 

Maintaining values

While instilling beliefs

Remains in the arms

Of our armies and chiefs

 

 

Whatever shall be said

Whatever that will be

Say it for America

In the name of liberty!

 

Connecting the past to the present...

"All the great things are simple, and many can be expressed in a single word:

freedom, justice, honor, duty, mercy, hope."

—Winston Churchill (1874–1965)

©2013 Awakenings

Sharla Lee Shults